** Brian Witherspoon of Stillman College signed a free-agent deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Terrance Stringer of Tuskegee University has a verbal agreement with the New York Giants, according to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Witherspoon ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at the University of Alabama's Pro Day, the SIAC said. The cornerback led Stillman with 73 tackles and eight interceptions in 33 games.

** Jacksonville State University's Taurean Rhetta signed a free-agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Rhetta, who signed with Jax State out of Parker High School as a quarterback, ended up a standout wide receiver, kick returner and kick blocker. Rhetta caught 27 passes for 363 yards and two TDs as a senior. For his career, Rhetta had 91 receptions for 1,586 yards and 12 scores. He is one of only six Gamecocks ever to register at least 1,500 yards in pass receiving.

** Tuskegee's Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tennis championship men's and women's teams will be playing next weekend in the NCAA Regional tournaments.

The men's team, which finished 21-5, will face Ouachita Baptist (14-4) on the University of West Florida campus at 10 a.m. on May 8.

The women were 22-4 and will play the University of North Alabama (9-5) at Georgia's Valdosta State University, also at 10 a.m. on May 8.

Ricardo Reed is the Golden Tigers' head coach. He was named the SIAC tournament's outstanding coach.

Jill Person and Constanza Aranda were named all-tournament in singles competition and Pearson and Francine Smith combined to make all-tourney in doubles.

The men's team was led by All-SIAC tourney singles honorees Miguel Cabral, Kudzai Sithole and Eric Palmer. Sithole and Palmer combined to earn doubles all-league honors.

** Samford's Hillary Neal was named this season's Ohio Valley Conference freshman of the year in women's outdoor track and field. She recorded the OVC's best times in the 800 and 1,500-meter runs. The Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., native was honored before the OVC championship meet began on Friday.

** Former Troy University guard Amy Lewis has survived the first cut of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. She will travel with the team for its preseason opener this weekend.

The Mercury is the home of UConn superstar Diana Taurasi and former Auburn standout Le'coe Willingham.

Lewis finished her Trojans career as the fifth-leading scorer in program history with 1,544 points. She's a native of Hamilton, Australia.